Clarinet, Piano, Composition, Improvisation And Music Theory Lessons By Nikita Manin

It all depends on your goals and experience!  When we meet we'll talk about your favorite things about music and the reasons you decided to take lessons.  Your experience will determine where we start.

If, for example, you're a beginning clarinetist and like klezmer music, in our first lesson we might talk about the basics of technique (posture, breath support, embouchure), learn your first five notes and a klezmer tune that uses them, and outline a practice routine with the amount of time you have each day (even if it's only five minutes).  Then I'd send you a recording of the song to play along with.

I'm in my senior year at the New England Conservatory in Boston on a Presidential scholarship, majoring in Contemporary Improvisation and minoring in Music Theory. I've studied with clarinetist Tom Martin of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, composer/pianist/improviser Anthony Coleman and composer Stratis Minakakis, clarinetist/composer Ben Goldberg.

For lessons that don't involve travel I usually charge $30 for an hour.  I'm happy to be flexible if this is unaffordable for you.  The first trial lesson will be free.

My high school band director recommended me to an acquaintance of his, a Stanford medicine professor who needed a clarinet teacher.  I didn't tell the professor he was my first student but he probably saw through me.  He was a pleasure to work with and I started formally offering lessons soon after.

Mostly clarinet students, of all ages and levels of experience.

Look for someone who speaks your language.  Not all minds are alike and understanding one another is crucial.